Raise for South Stormont mayor, council

In this Dec. 3, 2014, file photo, South Stormont council poses for a picture during inauguration night. Pictured are Deputy Mayor Tammy Hart, Coun. Donna Primeau, Mayor Jim Bancroft, Coun. David Smith and Coun. Richard Waldroff. Council voted itself an inflationary raise on March 9, 2016. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)

LONG SAULT – South Stormont council has voted itself an inflationary raise.

The raise was passed by council last night (March 9, 2016) after reviewing a report by CAO Betty de Haan.

It now means Mayor Jim Bancroft is paid $25,400 a year ($25,000 in 2015), Deputy Mayor Tammy Hart is getting $16,764 ($16,500 in 2015) and councillors Dave Smith, Donna Primeau and Richard Waldroff make $14,224 ($14,000 in 2015).

The raise is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2016 and is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is Statistics Canada’s index for the prices of a collection of goods and services.

The pay for the mayor and councillors went through an alignment in 2013 to reflect other municipalities like South Stormont following a consultant’s review.

In the case of council pay, one third of their paycheque is tax deductible.